Aerial apparatus.



No. 886,159. PATENTED APR. 28, 1908. I

M. B. SELLERS.

AERIAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24.1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' INVENTOH MATTHEWB SELLER 5 By r A W/TSSES 6 (7! /I I M i ATTORNEYS No.886,159. PATENTED APR. 28, 1908.

M. B. SELLERS.

AERIAL. APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JUE-Y 24,1907.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

' .INVENTOI? MATTBEWB- SELLERS Arrow/U8 Y PATENTED APR. 28, 1908.

M. B. SELLERS. AERIAL APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1907 3SHEETSSHEET 3.

mwslvrofi SELLER 5 MATTHEWE ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

MATTHEW B. sELL Es, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

- AERIAL APPARATUS.

Application filed July 24:, 1907.

constructions and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter describedand claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of my apparatus from theunder side and in the position it assumes when flying.

- Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus partly broken away. Fig. 3is a bottom plan view of the apparatus. Fig. 4 is a front view thereof.Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the upper side of the apparatus. Fig. 6is a side view of the apparatus in the act of Fig. 7 is a detailperspective view illustrating the adjustable connection ofthe stay wireswith the rear end of the boom. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective viewillustrating the connection between the spars and the side bar of thewings. Figs. 9 and 9 illustrate in detail the connection between theline wires and the coupling rods. Fig. 10 is a detail cross-sectionillustrating the knee blocks for securing the inner ends of the spars tothe boom. Fig. 11 is a detail section illustrating the curvature of theribs and the span wires for holding the same at the desired curvature,and Fig. 12 is a detail view illustrating the abutment for the ring ofthe rudder guy lines.

In the accompanying illustrations I have presented my invention in theform of a kite, the wings of which operate as an aeroplane and theobject of the invention'is to produce a construction with the greatestliftin' power for a unit area and one having little wind resistance, andwhich can be easily adjusted to properly fly in the practical operationof the invention. ,These results are accomplished in part by theparticular form of the wings; by the cylindrical form of the rudder andby the .means for bracing and staying the different parts whereby alight construction is made possible, the strength and rigidity increasedand the spars and ribs of the sails are so formed as to avoid theirexposure to the wind, thus giving the minimum head resistance in the useof the invention. I

For convenience of reference I designate Specification of LettersPatent.

the boom more or less.

Patented April 28, 1908.

Serial No. 385,323.

the part H as a cylindrical rudder. This cylindrical rudder presentlydescribed, exerts a peculiar steadying action but is not designed tooperate with a lifting action and to this end it will benoticed that therudder, as more fully described, is placed at an angle to the dihedralangle formed by the wings which angle is adjustableby the bending ofBecause of this negative angle of inclination the rudder does not form apart of the lifting surface but tends to maintain the lifting surfacesor wings at one particular positive angle to the -wind. The termnegative angle is widely used in aeronautics. A surface is inclined at anegative angle when its forwardprolongation would extend below thehorizon or below the line of its motion, or in a kite below the line ofthe wind" s motion, and when the surface points practically above thehorizon, etc., the angle is positive. When disturbing causes tend tomake this angletoo small the wind will impinge on the rudder moreforcibly and by depressing it tip up the wings, bringing them back toproper angle of incident, as will more fully appear on inspection of thedrawings. Should there be a further tendency to increase the angle ofthe wings to the direction of the wind then the wind will impinge uponthe lower surface of the rudder and raise it, bringing the wings backtoward the proper angle.

In the construction shown the kite is formed with a central boom A andwith wings B on opposite sides thereof, and at a dihedral angle andthese wings are constructed alike and comprise a suitable covering Bhaving casings in which are fitted ribs C and other casings in which arefitted, what for convenience of reference I term the s ars D whichlatter extend from end to end 0 the wings and are connected at theirouter ends by the side bars D and are secured at their inner ends to theboom A by means of knee blocks D as-shown in the drawings. These spars Dare set at an angle to each other and being together with the ribsinclosed in casings in the covering B are not exposed to the wind so Iavoid as far as possible wind resistance in the operation ofthe'invention. Moreover, this construction of a covering with casingsfitting on the spars facilitates the erection and taking apart of thekite which will be found convenient for shipment and storage.v The sidebars .D: being con nected with the cover B are provided with socketsinwhich fit pins at the outer ends of the spars D, as best-shown in Fig.8 of the drawings. The ribs are connected at their ends by span wires Cwhich'operate to hold the ribs curved to a proper degree to give thedesired curvature from front to rear of the wings, this being desired inaeroplanes in securing the best lifting power and the greatest angle ofelevation in the use of devices of this character. These s an wires Csimilar to the line wires present y describedare hooked in engagementwith the parts to which they connect so they can be readily detachedwhen desired. The connection of the line wires with the coupling rodsshown in the form of hooks, is an important feature ofmy invention. Itwill be understood that the dismounting and assembling of the severalparts is important and in securing this it is desirable to have the linewires which form braces and stays for the different parts, provided withcoupling rods for connection'with the parts which it is desired to stayor brace, and as in practice fine wire such as a proper gage of pianowire is used for the. braces or stays, it has been found impracticableto connect such wires directly with the hooks or their coupling bars byany ordinary form of connection, as the wires would cut or break.Therefore, I have through a long series of experiments devised theconstruction best shown in detail in Figs. 9 9*, for connecting the linewires lettered in said figures as 1 with the coupling rod lettered insaid figures as 2. In this construction the coupling bar 2 is bentbetween its ends to form an eye 3 and line wire 1 passes along the shank4, throu h the eye 2 and is given one or more turns a out the eye andthen several turns around the shank, then one or more turns at 5 aroundthe line wire, then several turns around the shank back to the eye, thenone or more turns at 6 in the eye. The Winding of the wire at 5 aroundthe main portion of the line wire is important as it revents slipping ofthe line wire, and it is ound in practice that this form of connectionis eflicient and practicable and serves the purpose for which it isdesigned. I have illustrated in Fig. 9 the operation partly effected,that is to say, down to the point where the wire is-twisted at 5 aroundthe body of the line wire and in Fig. 9 I show the connection completebetween the hue wire and the coupling Wire. Manifestly, this couplingrod may be any suitable form of wire of a sufficient gage to give thestiffness necessary to hold its form and by preference the coup ing rodisbent at its end opposite the shank into hook form to engage with theloops or staples with which it is engaged 1n the use 01" the invention.

The covering of the wings may be of silk or other suitable fabric andthis is stretched tight by connecting the inner edges of the olppositewings by suitable devices. As. s

In bracing the opposite wings on their,

upper sides I provide the transverse back stayg, G in the form of wireshaving at their ends'.hooks engaging with eyes or staples G on the sparsmidway between the ends of the latter and I alsoprovide dia onal backstays G having hooks at their en s engaging with the staples G, anddiagonal stays extending between the front staples G of one wing and therear staples G of the opposite wing as shown in 5 of'the drawin I alsoprovide boom stays G hooked at t eir front ends into the rear staples Gof the wings and extending thence inwardly and rearwardly and adjustablyconnected at their rear ends with the boom A near the rear end of thelatter'. The purpose of these boom stays G is to secure the boom at itsrear end at any desired angle by bending the boom laterally in order toset the rudder H at any suitable angle to the plane of the keel. In adjustably securing 'the boom stays G it is preferred to provide a hook Gon the boom near its rear endand preferably within the cylindricalrudder H and to connect such hook G with the coupling rods G of thestays G by linked chains G, the adjustment being effected by engagingany desired links of the chains with the hook G as best shown in Fig. 7of the draw- 'ings.

The transverse stays G are capable of a sli ht yielding or sprin actionlongitudina 1y, this being effected y coiling the wires G at G7 and thenpulling the coils out nearly straight as will be understood from thedrawings, see particularly Figs. 4 and 5.

On its under side the aeroplane is braced from the lower ends of posts Idepending from the boom A and forming the braces for the keel J. In thusbracing the under side of the aeroplanes I employ, see Figs. 1 and 3,the rear stay wires K, k and the frontstay wires K, K and K Bypreference the wires K, K and K are united at their inner ends andconnect by a hook K common to all with an eye at the lower end of thefront ost I, the outer ends of the stays K, K and 3 being provided withhooks engaging with eyes orstaples on the under side of the Wings aswill be understood from Figs. 1 and 3 of The rear post I of the keel J tthe drawings: is braced by a rearwardly extending stay wireI connectedat its rear end with the boom and an upwardly projecting post I inalinement with the rear post I and immediately above the boom A, forms abearing intermediate the ends of the upper boom erally therefrom, ribscrossin It will be understood from the foregoing that the several staysare provided at their ends with coupling rods as illustrated in detailin F ig. 9 and may be conveniently attached and detached wheneverdesired.

The keel J extends lon itudinally and in a vertical plane immediate ybelow the boom A, and at a point midway between the op 0- site edges ofthe aeroplane provided by the opposite wings as show a he rudder H is incylindrical form and preferably is formed with a suitable tube H of anydesired flexible material havin a rear hoop H and a forward 1100 H tierear hoop having uy lines H wit a central ring to fit on t e rear end ofthe boom A and abut a suitable rearwardly facing projection H, see Fig.12, and the front hoop H has connected with it guy lines H" engaging attheir front ends with hooks H on the boom in such manner as to securethe cylindrical rudder over the rear end of the boom with the latterconcentric with the rudder as will be understood from Figs. 1, 3, 5 and6 of the drawin By properly adjusting the boom stays, t e boom may bebent to deflect it in any suitable manner in order to cause the rudd theoperation of the invention.

In practice it is found best to set the rudder so that it will inclineupwardly toward its rear end when the wings are at a mined angle, andthe leverage is su cient to make the regulation very close.

It will be noticed that this rudder is set at an angle with the liftingfront surface afforded by'the wings and the open cylindrical rudder whenapplied as shown tends to maintain the lifting surface at the desiredangle, and, when disturbed, to return it to such angle in the practicaluse of the invention.

. In bending the boom to project more or less upwardly, ment of theupper boom stay may by cutting off the hook from one coupling rods ofsaid stay and bending another hook at a proper point thereon. This canbe conveniently affected as it is only necessary to adjust the said stayat rare intervals.

I claim;

be effected of the end 1. An aerial apparatus comprisin a cenextendinglatg the spars, and covering means formed with the spars, and ribs,wings at a dihedral angle on opposite sides of the boom, transverseanddiagonal backstays above the wings, posts depending from the boom andmaterial connecting the said posts and forming a keel below the boom,stays between the wings and the said depending posts and stays betweenthe wings tral longitudinal boom, spars dihedral angle, a

er to properly steady the apparatus in redeterto cause its rear end theadjust- I slipped at said ends upon their res point I and the rear endsofthe boom and adjustably connected with'the latter, and an opencylindrical rudder in rear of the wings and carried by the boom,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

An aerial apparatus comprising a boom, wings extending laterallytherefrom and at a dihedral angle, and a cylindrical rudder in rear ofand at an angle to the dihedral angle formed by the wings.

3: In an aerial apparatus, the combination of a pair of laterallyextending wings set at a central boom between the inner ends of saidwings, and a cylindrical rudder on said boom in rear of the wings.

4. An aerial apparatus comprising an inclined sustaining surface andacylindricalrudder in rear of the inclined surface and connected withthe sustaining surface, whereby .to guide and steady the a paratus.

In an aerial apparatus, t e combination of a wing or an aeroplane,arched from front torear, and having a plurality of ribs extending fromfront to rear, whereby to maintain its curvature, with stays connectingthe ends of said ribs whereby to maintain them in a bowed form.

6. In an aerial apparatus having wire stays, the combination ent betweenits ends formin an eye, and having a shank beyond the sair eye, of aline wire extending along the shank and through the eye and around thesame, and then wound along the shank toward the extremtwisted back alongthe shank and wire and passed throughthe loop or eye and around thesame.

7. An aerial apparatus comprising wings adapted to operate with alifting action and arran ed at a dihedral angle, and an opencylincIrical rudder in rear of the lifting wings and at an angle to thedihedral angle formed by the wings.

In an aerial alpparatus the combination y pro ecting spars, hide-- of aboom lateral 1pendent coverings for the opposite spars and aving casingsopen at their inner ends and at said ends on their respective spars, andmeans securing the opposite coverings at their inner ends wherebytheymay be held' on their respective spars, substantially as set forth.

9. In an aerial apparatus, the combination of a boom, spars projectinglaterally therefrom, coverings having laterally extending casings openat their inner ends and slipped ective spars, means connecting the inner81H site coverings whereby to secure the same on their respective spars,and ribs extending from front to rear'of the respective coverings s ofthe oppo- 3 and secured thereto, all substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

wings, the said diagona 2O 1 10. In an aerial apparatus the combinationwith a boom and t e laterally extending the angle of the rear end of theboom relative to said front end, substantially as set forth.

11. In an aerial a paratus the combination with a boom, an wings at thefront end thereof, of a cylindrical rudder encircling the and staysbetween said rudder and the boom.

12. In an aerial apparatus the combination with a boom, and laterallyextending wings at a dihedral angle, of transverse staysextendingbetween the opposite wings above thesame, and diagonal staysbetween the said wings and crossin each other above the stays beingsecured at one end to one side of the central line of the apparatus andat the other end at the other s1 e of said central line, substantiallyas set forth. v

13. In an aeria a paratus the combination with a boom, an wingsextending laterally therefrom, of posts de ending from the boom, andstays between t e posts and the opposite wings.

14. In an aerial a tion with a boom, an the laterally extending Wings,of posts depending from the boom, and stays com rising a plurality ofbranches connected at t eir'outer' ends with their respective wings andunited at their inner ends and connected with the posts, as set forth.

15. In an aerial a paratus the combination with a boom, an wings, and an0 en cylindrical rudder at the rear end of the oom, of boom stayssecured at their front ends to the wings and inclining thence inwardlyand rearwardly and connected at their rear ends with the boom.

16. In an aerial apparatus the combination with the opposite wings, ofstays comprising line wires and coupling rods at the ends thereof, thesaid rods being rovided between their ends with eyes and wit shanksbeyond the same, and the line wires bein twisted around the shanks andthrough anc l around the eyes, and also having portions twisted aroundthe main portions of the line wires as and for the purpose set forth.

17. An aerial ap paratus com rising a boom, wings exten ing laterally terefrom at a dihedral angle and having their surfaces substantially.

paratus the combinastantially as herein shown.

' the laterally extending therefrom and having spars,

and extending to connections between the 'opfiosite wmtgs it yasset orttheir inner edges, substantia 19. In an aerial apparatus the combinationof a central boom, wings on o posite sides thereof, an open cylindricalru der on the boom, in rear of the win s, and a stay extending above theboom an connected at its front and rear ends thereto, whereby it mayoperate to deflect and vary the angle of the rudder relatively to thatof. the wings.

20. The combination in an aerial apparatus of a boom, wings extendinglaterally knee blocks to which said spars are secured at their innerends, means securing the knee blocks to the boom, stays for the wings, arudder on the boom in rear of the wings, substantially as set forth. a

21. In an aerial apparatusfa wing covering, havin transverse ribs, andlongitudinal casings, a apted to be drawn on or ofl supporting spars andspars in said casings, su

22. In an aerial apparatus, the combination of suitable sustainingsurfaces, with a rearwardly extending boom, and an open cylindricalrudder carried by said boom, and normally inclined at a negative angleto the direction of motion, and ca able of adjustment laterally andvertica ly, whereby to guide andsteady the apparatus.

23. An aerial apparatus, com taining surface, a boom suita ly attachedthe rear of said surface, and an 0 en cylindrical 'tail or ruddercarried by said oom, and capable of adjustment laterally and vertically,whereby to guide and steady the apparatus.

24. In an aerial apppar'atus, a wing or aeroplane, comprising a suitablecovering, ribs extending from front to rear of same, and casingsextendin from end to end of the covering, and spars tting in saidcasings, whereby the covering with 1ts ribs can be drawn on or off thesupporting spars.

MATTHEW B. SELLERS.

rising a sus- Witnesses:

SOLON O. KEMON, PERRY B. TURPIN.

